Lot, The Loser

LOT, THE LOSER

Text: II Pet.2: 7, 8

Intro: As I gave the title of this message, you may have thought it a little unkind. However, the point of that title was not unkindness, but to simply encapsulate the overall outcome of Lot’s life. In a very real sense, Lot lost everything of any value in his life. In short, this was the result of Lot having put his wants ahead of God’s will.

Lot is an example of a Christian who tried to live as close to the world as possible with the mistaken idea that it wouldn’t affect him. As a result, Lot lost everything. He lost his family, his possessions, and his integrity. He lost it all.

Many Christians of our day are doing much the same as Lot. They are trying to live as close to the world as possible without being affected by it. They are living a tightrope existence, attempting to live with one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. But the fact is, it can’t be done. That kind of life will inevitably lead to a fall.

Our Lord said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 62). He also said, “No man can serve two masters…” (Matt.6: 24a). The point is you can’t live for self and the world, while at the same time being committed and pleasing to God. It is a spiritual impossibility. Trying to walk with the world and with the Lord at the same time simply can’t be done. Those two ways of life cancel out each other.

Notice with me today how trying to walk with the world made Lot a spiritual loser.

Theme: Lot became a spiritual loser because of:

I. HIS WEAK DEVOTION TOWARD GOD

A. He Had Great Assets And Wealth.

Gen.13: 5 “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.”

NOTE: [1] The Bible does not condemn anyone for having great riches. The scripture does however, condemn placing our trust in riches (I Tim.6: 17). Lot’s problem was not his riches, but his worldly attitude. Like the world, he had the idea that the value of his life was dependent upon what he possessed. Lot had relegated first place in his life to his riches. This becomes more evident later.

[2] Great assets won’t make up for weak devotion toward God. Riches in and of themselves will not make one happy, as this true story illustrates.

Many people think money is security, but I Timothy 6:9 warns that it can be just the opposite. A few years ago, columnist Jim Bishop reported what happened to people who won the state lottery:

Rosa Grayson of Washington won $400 a week for life. She hides in her apartment. For the first time in her life, she has “nerves.” Everyone tries to put the touch on her. “People are so mean, “ she said. “I hope you win the lottery and see what happens to you.”

When the McGugarts of New York won the Irish Sweepstakes, they were happy. Pop was a steamfitter. Johnny, twenty-six, loaded crates on docks. Tim was going to night school. Pop split the million with his sons. They all said the money wouldn’t change their plans. A year later, the million wasn’t gone; it was bent. The boys weren’t speaking to Pop, or each other. Johnny was chasing expensive racehorses; Tim was catching up with expensive girls. Mom accused Pop of hiding his poke from her. Within two years, all of them were in court for nonpayment of income taxes. “It’s the Devil’s own money,” Mom said. Both boys were studying hard to become alcoholics.

All these people hoped and prayed for sudden wealth. All had their prayers answered. All were wrecked on a dollar sign.

Chuck Rasmussen.

[3] If the child of God is to be successful by God’s standard, the love of their life must be Jesus. That’s true whether you are a pauper or a millionaire. Most of us are richer than we know.

Dear Lord,

I have been re-reading the record of the Rich Young Ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has set me thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not—ride in a car, have any surgery, turn on a light, buy penicillin, hear a pipe organ, watch TV, wash dishes in running water, type a letter, mow a lawn, fly in an airplane, sleep on an innerspring mattress, or talk on the phone.

If he was rich, then what am I?